Pirates fans must be torn on who to root for in this game.

Wow, huge win for Cardinals!

Wow, huge win for Cardinals!

Now even if the Cardinals go 11-12 to finish the year the Cubs would have to go 19-5 to match them.

 

Also, just saw highlights of Grichuk's "throws" from CF. He cost the Cards two runs today, are they that desperate for offense? Puzzling move by Matheny. Though that botched rundown in the 1st was perhaps even more pathetic.

What's so bad about Jon Jay?

Chuck Swirsky on Twitter ready to give the Cubs the next 5 World Series.

Is the fact the cubs strike out at an alarming rate ever going to be an issue?

 

On average they strike out once an inning...that is on average. Good pitchers get them three times every two innings and a good closer...well you get the point.

Looks like the Cubs are the latest victim of Fernando Rodney's wild ride.

That was overrated at Disney World.

Is the fact the cubs strike out at an alarming rate ever going to be an issue?

 

On average they strike out once an inning...that is on average. Good pitchers get them three times every two innings and a good closer...well you get the point.

 

They also continuously have good at bats and make the pitchers work.

Is the fact the cubs strike out at an alarming rate ever going to be an issue?

 

On average they strike out once an inning...that is on average. Good pitchers get them three times every two innings and a good closer...well you get the point.

MLB rank of strikeouts by previous MLB champions:

 

2014: Giants - 17th

2013: Red Sox - 8th

2012: Giants - 26th

2011: Cardinals - 29th

2010: Giants - 19th

2009: Yankees - 27th

2008: Phillies - 12th

2007: Red Sox - 21st

2006: Cardinals - 25th

2005: White Sox - 17th

2004: Red Sox - 4th

2003: Marlins - 23rd

2002: Angels - 30th

2001: Diamondbacks - 20th

2000: Yankees - 22nd

 

So it seems like in general teams that win the World Series don't strike out much, but the Red Sox did win it twice with high-strikeout offenses. Does any of this mean anything? Who knows. I'd love to find out an easy way to see how high-strikeout offenses do against good pitching in general, but I don't know where to easily find that kind of data.

Wow, huge win for Cardinals!

Pedro Strop:

 

lol that's what the Cubs get for throwing Fernando Rodney out there.

Chuck Swirsky on Twitter ready to give the Cubs the next 5 World Series.

 

Wow, you're not kidding. He makes J4Life sound pessimistic. Good thing Chuck was allowed to do so many Sox games.

The Cubs would be below .500 if they were in the AL.

The Cubs would be below .500 if they were in the AL.

lol

lol

What? They play so many bad teams. The Phillies, Braves, Marlins, Reds, Brewers, Rockies, and Diamondbacks are all horrible and playing them is a guaranteed win most of the time.

What? They play so many bad teams. The Phillies, Braves, Marlins, Reds, Brewers, Rockies, and Diamondbacks are all horrible and playing them is a guaranteed win most of the time.

The bottom of the NL is indeed horrific but c'mon now. They've fared pretty well against the Giants, Mets, and Pirates.

The bottom of the NL is indeed horrific but c'mon now. They've fared pretty well against the Giants, Mets, and Pirates.

They were also mediocre against the Sox, Tigers, and Indians, who are all fairly poor teams in the AL.

Saying they would be under .500 in the AL is a bit of a stretch, but I do think their record would be worse.

Saying they would be under .500 in the AL is a bit of a stretch, but I do think their record would be worse.

Same with the Cardinals and Pirates too.

Same with the Cardinals and Pirates too.

Yes. It's really night & day just how awful the NL is compared to the AL. The #2-#3 starters are horrible...not to mention the 4s & 5s. Mercy.

The circle jerk has come back to the beginning.

Wow, you're not kidding. He makes J4Life sound pessimistic. Good thing Chuck was allowed to do so many Sox games.

 

The whole thing with Chuck tweeting that the Cards know a tsunami is coming is why it's hard to support the Cubs. I doubt the Cardinals are in the fetal position biting their fingernails in fear. They have history on their side.

Yes. It's really night & day just how awful the NL is compared to the AL. The #2-#3 starters are horrible...not to mention the 4s & 5s. Mercy.

A good but not great hitter in the AL like Cespedes goes to the NL and becomes an MVP candidate. When's the last time a hitter went from NL to AL and improved significantly?

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/i...ing-up-momentum

JD Martinez was with Houston when they were in the NL. Batista and Encarnacion.

JD Martinez was with Houston when they were in the NL. Batista and Encarnacion.

Ok, how about an example within the last 3 years when the disparity between the leagues has appeared to have grown